Mike McGavick, after announcing his resignation as CEO of Safeco Insurance yesterday,
confirmed he is forming an exploratory committee for the 2006 Senate race against Maria Cantwell. He is a Republican stalwart.
After the jump, samples and examples of field-clearing...
Support:
McGavick, 47, said he already has picked up significant early backing from party elders like former Sen. Slade Gorton and former Rep. Jennifer Dunn and their organizations. He said his support spans the full breadth of the party and that he plans to reach out to independents and so-called Reagan Democrats.
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McGavick is well known in political circles for his role in electing Gorton to the Senate in 1980, defeating powerful Sen. Warren G. Magnuson. He also directed Gorton's winning comeback bid in 1988.
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Besides serving in Gorton's office and campaigns, McGavick worked for Jay Rockey and Gallatin Group, public affairs consulting groups and the insurance industry. He worked for the American Insurance Association as a Superfund reform expert and then became a top manager at CNA in Chicago for six years. He returned to Seattle in 2001 to take the helm at Safeco, an assignment he called risky both for the company and himself, but ultimately a satisfying and successful match.
The private sector experience would be a big assist to the state if he's elected, he said.
"When you marry the right leader with the right people and the right strategy, you get great results," McGavick said.
Personal wealth:
He declined to say if he'll use significant amounts of his own wealth, as Cantwell did and business leaders in others states have done to secure Senate seats. But he did say, "I find it offensive when rich people go out and buy a seat."
(we know Republicans - this means he expects lots of really big checks from wealthy people, then he'll kick in when he needs to attack)
Who's out:
On Monday, former Rep. Rick White, R-Wash.--who unseated Cantwell in a 1994 House race--told The Associated Press that he's dropping out of the Senate race.
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State GOP Chairman Chris Vance said he doesn't expect to run, either.
Who may be still in for a maverick campaign:
Diane Tebelius, a member of the Republican National Committee and unsuccessful contender in last fall's 8th District congressional primary, is eying the Senate race.
(misspellings are King 5's responsibility, not Switzer's)
so there you have it. Time to figure this guy out; he's going to run heavy on pro-business platform, and as an insurance guy, he'll talk about medical malpractice until he's blue in the face. We need to get a sense of his social stands aside from the inevitable "moderate" claims. Anybody got any insight?